The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an epistolary novel written by American novelist Stephen Chbosky. It was published on February 1, 1999 by MTV. The story is narrated by a teenager who goes by the alias of "Charlie"; he describes various scenes in his life by writing a series of letters to an anonymous person, whom he does not know personally.
The story explores topics such as introversion, teenage sexuality, homosexuality, abuse, and the awkward times of adolescence. The book also touches strongly on drug use and Charlie's experiences with this. As the story progresses, various works of literature and film are referenced and their meanings discussed.
The story takes place in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the 1991–1992 school year, when Charlie is a high school freshman. Charlie is the wallflower of the novel. He is an unconventional thinker, and as the story begins he is shy and unpopular.

This is the most magical book I have ever read. And I have read Harry Potter, mind me. It is short, and beautiful on its own way. It is, for me, the definition of a story.

In my opinion, it does not convey any central or grand idea, it does not focus on any social or political issue, it is not a children's tale, it is not an adult's book, it is not a futuristic or adventurous novel. It is a story. A beautifully written story that does not need big cities, starships, or exciting new worlds with magnificent beasts and terrifying dangers; it does not even need more than eight characters. It is only the story of a scared little boy who loves reading, hiding and, most importantly of all, Batman.

It does not explain things that are not pertinent to the plot. It is as if Gaiman is trying to accurately represent the mind of a seven year old boy: someone who cares and pays attention only to the things that matter here and now. No worrying, no wondering; just living, breathing, and doing the right thing, even if he doesn't really understand what it means sometimes. The writer does not even give the child a name. Why would a seven year old boy introduce himself? He would just assume everyone either knows his name, or is not connected to him and therefore has no reason for wanting to know it.

On a second thought, maybe it does reference one big, important, but hidden truth. One everyone wants to run away from: "Adults follow paths. Children explore." I don't think anyone who does not have a bit of a child inside himself can truly appreciate this story. "Books were safer than other people anyway", says the narrator. I think many people have slowly forgotten what it meant to lose oneself inside a story. I think many people have just grown up. This idea is conveyed in Ocean with a touch of sadness and melancholy. I think Neil Gaiman agrees with me.

I want to be able to inmerse myself in a book. To explore the characters's minds deeply, to live in their shoes for a while, to leave mine behind. Neil Gaiman does this for me. His story stands on its own. It needs no context, no additional knowledge, not even more than 200 pages, or 2 hours of reading.